Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026
Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026: Designated Areas and Postcodes
The Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 sets out the designated areas recognised under regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
For applicants whose circumstances involve a designated-area requirement, the relevant location can be checked against the areas specified in the current instrument.
What does the new instrument do?
The new instrument specifies the designated areas for the purposes of regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
The areas are identified using postcodes and States or Territories. An entire State or Territory can also be specified as a designated area.
Schedule 1 — Specified designated areas:
What should applicants check?
If designated area requirements are relevant to your circumstances, the important step is to check the current designated-area information.
In particular, you should check:
Your postcode — Is the relevant postcode included?
Your State or Territory — Is the relevant State or Territory specified?
The current instrument — Are you checking the 2026 instrument rather than the repealed Designated Areas 2016/044?
The commencement date — Has the new instrument commenced?
The designated areas are listed in the table above.
Why is the location important?
The instrument uses location information to identify designated areas. Applicants who need to determine whether a particular location is specified as a designated area should check the relevant postcode or State or Territory against the designated areas listed in the instrument.
A location should not be assumed to be a designated area without checking the applicable information in the current instrument.
When does the new instrument start?
The Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 commences the day after it is registered.
This is important when checking which instrument applies at a particular time.
What happened to the previous designated-area instrument?
The new instrument repeals Designated Areas 2016/044.
The repeal applies to the whole of the previous instrument.
Applicants using designated-area information should therefore refer to the current instrument rather than relying on the repealed instrument.
Where can applicants check the designated areas?
The designated areas are identified in Schedule 1 of the Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026.
Applicants can check the relevant postcode, State or Territory against the table to determine whether the location is specified as a designated area.
Key takeaway for applicants
If a designated area is relevant to your circumstances, check the location against the current designated areas rather than relying on older designated area information.
Source: Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026, Federal Register of Legislation.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on information available at the time of publication and is subject to change without notice. Australian migration policies and requirements may change over time. Applicants should verify the latest information with the Australian Department of Home Affairs before making any decisions or arrangements.